Tag: joy

We all want one thing in life: to be truly content. True happiness isn’t something that comes along easy, but it’s something we can have through God and God alone….

We all want one thing in life: to be truly content. True happiness isn’t something that comes along easy, but it’s something we can have through God and God alone.

We often find ourselves seeking things that only provide temporary satisfaction. They satisfy us for a day, a month, a year, etc., and then we go on seeking the next thing to give us that joy or contentment that we quickly felt.

These things we use to try to fill the void in our lives will always run out. As Jesus was a human on this earth, he knows the temporary joy the world offers. He also knows the long-lasting, fulfilling joy that our heavenly father gives freely to us.

God wants us to feel the joy he has in store for us. It’s something that doesn’t even compare to any joy we’ve felt before. He is the true giver of every perfect gift, and he wants to give us the gift of true, lasting contentment. Take a look at what God’s word says about discovering real happiness!

“For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:32-33

God may not give you a new car or hand you a million dollars, but he will give you the things no one else on this earth can. When we seek him and his righteousness, God provides us with so much more than worldly riches.

I was once told of a verse that talks about worldly contentment so perfectly. Jeremiah 2:13 says, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water”

Jesus is the spring of living water that is endless, ever-flowing, pure, and holy. If we take a look at this verse, it’s saying that we, as sinners, replace Jesus’s perfect water and replace it with our own. Our cisterns are broken, unable to hold water, only satisfying our needs for a short amount of time.

So, I challenge you to this: think of three different cisterns in your life. Maybe it’s partying, boys, grades, whatever it may be. These are the things you find yourself seeking happiness in that only end up giving you joy in the moment. Then, focus on how you can take the effort you spend on these things and spend it on growing closer to God. Watch how your heart changes!

At the end of the day, happiness will always come and go. But with God, our hearts, minds, and spirits are always filled with his love and his joy. We waste so much time on temporary fulfillment when she should be looking for everlasting fulfillment from our heavenly father. That is where true, eternal contentment can be found

FOMO… It’s an ever-so-real phrase that our generation made up that means the “fear of missing out.” Every heard of it? It’s something that’s so real that we’ve all experienced…

FOMO… It’s an ever-so-real phrase that our generation made up that means the “fear of missing out.” Every heard of it?

It’s something that’s so real that we’ve all experienced from time and time again. Especially being young in a culture that is all about FOMO, we want to take every opportunity to travel, hang out with friends, go on dates, etc., which is not always a bad thing. FOMO becomes a problem when it starts taking away the joy of the present.

Let’s look at a situation for example. Your friends are all hanging out and, because you don’t want to miss out, you drop what you’re doing to go join them. Even though you may not have the time or money to do so, you’re so worried about missing out that you forget to stop and actually think about it.

Obviously, that’s a milder example, but I’m sure you’ve been there multiple times! You probably experience FOMO on a harsher scale, which can be both exhausting and draining. You may even overthink and overanalyze the situation so much that FOMO isn’t your only problem anymore.

I read a quote that describes it perfectly: “Do not fear missing out at the expense of missing now. There is magic all around and joy inside. Do not be mindlessly chasing all shiny new things and miss what matters most – the appreciation, gratitude, and generosity in this very moment.”

We get so caught up in what we may be missing out that we forget to enjoy the moment we’re in now. It’s a cycle that never ends and it takes away the joy of the present.

What does the Bible say about enjoying the present? In the MSG version of Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, it says, “We should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now…” You can’t receive joy when your mind is so consumed with worry and thoughts of the “what ifs.”

God also commands us to rest. You don’t always need to be doing things that fill up your time 24/7. Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

When we live our life waiting for tomorrow or worrying about missing out, we don’t get to experience this rest that God wants for our lives. Our bodies need rest! We need to take a day off every once in a while, even if that means potentially missing out in the end.

Although it’s good to be busy and to make time for things that are important, it’s also good to take time for yourself and for God. FOMO can take you away from the present, but we only have so much of it!

Think of who you are and what makes you, you. I’m guessing several different characteristics and adjectives popped into your head. Maybe you think of yourself as a straight-A student…

Think of who you are and what makes you, you. I’m guessing several different characteristics and adjectives popped into your head.

Maybe you think of yourself as a straight-A student or a varsity athlete. Maybe you think of yourself as the class clown or a perfectionist. There are so many little things that make us who we are.

For me, I always want to do the best in all that I do. My head gets consumed with the thoughts of “am I good enough?” “am I smart enough?” “am I athletic enough?” We get so caught up in what we think about ourselves and forget about what the creator of the universe thinks about his children.

Recently, while I was flipping through my Bible, a certain word stuck out to me: beloved.

Beloved is a word defined as “greatly loved; dear to the heart.” What I like even more than its definition is its synonyms: cherished, precious, sweet, darling.

When we think of God calling us beloved or His beloved, He is also calling us cherished, precious, and much more. The beautiful thing about this is that in the Bible, the word “beloved” is almost always used when addressing His children.

1 John 3:1-2 says this: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does no know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now…” Beloved is such an endearing term and I love the way this verse puts it.

Look at 1 John 4:7-8: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” Then again, look at 3 John 1:2: “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”

This word shows up over and over again in the Bible. It gives me so much comfort knowing that I am called beloved by the God who made the planets and sent His one and only son to save the sins of His people.

We need to stop thinking of ourselves as the star athlete or the class valedictorian. Although these things are great things to be, we need to remember who we are at the end of the day. We are solely God’s children and He calls us His own. He calls us His beloved, His darling, His precious, His cherished.

Next time doubts and insecurities pop into your head, remember who you are in God’s eyes. The boy you’ve been crushing on or the peers you’ve been trying to impress may never see your worth, but your father who holds you so dearly always has and always will.

Find comfort in this, find peace in this, and find joy in this. We are His beloved and that is something to be so proud about.

Comparison steals our joy. These days, being content with what we have and how we look is a struggle. If you ask a group of women what one of life’s…

Comparison steals our joy. These days, being content with what we have and how we look is a struggle. If you ask a group of women what one of life’s biggest struggles is, the overwhelming answer will be being content and not comparing ourselves to others. Contentment is something that we can and need to learn, because we are God’s children and He made us the way we are for a reason. Comparison and envy date back as far as Rachel and Leah in the Old Testament, where in Genesis 30:1 it says “When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, or I shall die!’” We not only compare whether we are as “good” as others, but also compare our struggles with others and whose hardships are “worse.” How do we put out the comparison fire that Satan lights in our hearts?

Accept your uniqueness: Think of something you are good at, and then think how long you have been working at it. Is it running? Bargain shopping? Cooking? Remember everything good in life takes work. Do you envy that a friend has lost weight and looks great? Tell her that she looks amazing, and let her inspire you to work hard as well. And remember that God designed us to be different and unique. Life would be so boring if we all looked alike, dressed alike, and had the same talents and skills.

Be happy for the strengths of others: This one sort of goes with the point above. If we aren’t careful, when we first met someone we can get sucked into comparing ourselves to them. Whether it is their physical attributes or the material things they possess, we can either make ourselves feel better or worse about ourselves based on our evaluations. It is so hard to overcome this habit. Try every day to see yourself as God sees you, and remember that comparison is selfish. See the real person behind their physical and material attributes. Consider their feelings, and work hard to compliment others from the heart. You never know, they could also be struggling with a comparison battle. You can also learn from others, and instead of making life feel like a competition, you can become a better person.

Get rid of the “me” mindset: Comparison is selfishness disguised. It has us looking at others and thinking about ourselves. We need to work to train our minds to want to impress God and not others. When we stop thinking of how others view us, we can be free from the burden that is selfishness.

Kick worldly expectations to the curb: Like I said earlier, comparison steals joy. Not only does it steal our joy, it also steals our contentment and our will to live a godly life. When we compare ourselves with others, we are not using an accurate measure. Dragging around the world’s expectations hinders us from the journey that God has in store for us. We cheat ourselves out of God’s blessings when we try to live the life we see others living. When you live your own life, and stop envying someone else’s, you see your blessings more clearly.

Let’s rejoice in our strengths, work on our weaknesses, and celebrate each other for the unique people we are!

No matter where I am in life, what I am doing or how I am doing it, there always seems to be someone doing it bigger and better. No matter…

No matter where I am in life, what I am doing or how I am doing it, there always seems to be someone doing it bigger and better. No matter how many positive things I have going for me, somehow the negative thoughts seep in.

I find myself needing to take “social media breaks” every once in a while to detox my mind and give myself fresh perspective. It seems like everywhere you look, there is someone skinnier, prettier, more popular, with a better house, better clothes, and a happier smile. Comparing your work, your life, and whatever else will only make you miserable. Why? Because when you compare yourself to others, you aren’t seeing all the stuff going on in the background. You are only seeing the positive surface-level information that they are allowing everyone to see. Comparing yourself to someone else’s “best” is unfair.

It’s not just on social media that we can start to allow jealousy to slowly seep into our hearts. Your coworker may be excelling and getting promoted faster than you are. The friends you grew up may be getting engaged or married. When I see people that started their YouTube channels around the same time I did gaining more followers or opportunities than me, it is hard not to let jealousy paralyze my thinking. If I’m not careful, comparing myself to them can strip me of my contentment with who I am and what I am good at. Jealousy steals joy.

It is painfully true. Jealousy gives you a sick feeling in your stomach and an satisfaction with all that God has given you and the gifts he has blessed you with. Dwelling on these things sets us back. I used to worry a lot about what I wore, never wanting people to see me in the same outfit twice. I saw all of my YouTube friends dressing fashionably, so I did too. All of the stress of constantly worrying what I was wearing and what people would think of it was stealing my happiness. Comparing ourselves to others removes focus from what we should be proud of within ourselves. I guarantee that someone has looked at you and thought “I wish I could be like her.”

My advice? Keep reminding yourself that comparing yourself to others only discourages you. It will push you to spend money on things you don’t want or need just to be like the people you envy. Take ownership of who you are. Be proud of your positive qualities and achievements. There is no one else on this planet who is just like you.

Sometimes life is just hard. Sometimes it can feel like life isn’t fair. Why are bad things happening to me? Will I ever get through this? The answer is yes….

Sometimes life is just hard. Sometimes it can feel like life isn’t fair. Why are bad things happening to me? Will I ever get through this? The answer is yes. And you do not have to go through it alone. We all go through trials and sorrow, Jesus himself tells us this in John 16:33! But, the good news? The pain you are going though right now cannot even compare to the joy that is coming! That is from Romans 8:18. Here are a few ways that you can find joy in the hard times.

Have peace: The great thing about this life is that we aren’t walking through it alone, and we can have peace because we know that God has a plan for our lives, and we can have peace in Him. Nothing surprises Him, he has it all planned out! Why worry about life when God has it all under control? Your story is already written! Have peace and know that Jesus has conquered death, and overcame the world. There is nothing He cannot do.

Rejoice: You may be thinking “Rejoice? How can I rejoice when I feel like my world is falling apart? How can I rejoice when I feel so sad and alone?” When Paul and Silas were in a dungeon, beaten and shackled in a dark cell, they began praying and singing praises to God. While shackled! And beaten! Other prisoners saw them praising God even in their misery, and they were astounded. Their praising God in their darkest time showed the other prisoners just how much they loved their God. That is what we are called to do, rejoice in our misery because this will show others we trust God. Rejoice, because He is always there, He will never leave us!

You will be so surprised at how God can work in your life when you surrender your pain and sorrow to Him. He will open your eyes to the good in your life, He will put people in your life that will uplift and encourage you, and He will give you strength to get through every hardship you endure! Trust in Him and cast your burdens on Him, because he cares SO much for you.

2 Corinthians 5:7 says “Walk by faith, not by sight.” It is hard to believe in things we cannot see. We like to be able to be able to see…

2 Corinthians 5:7 says “Walk by faith, not by sight.” It is hard to believe in things we cannot see. We like to be able to be able to see and touch things in order to believe they are real, but as Christians we are told to have faith like a child and believe without having all of the answers.

What does it mean to walk by faith and not by sight? It means to believe in God even though you cant see Him. It means to means to live your faith out, and be Jesus with skin on. Show people that you are different and show them the joy that you have because you are living for a purpose greater than yourself. I strive every day to walk by faith. That is why you may have noticed that a lot of my social media posts lately have been faith-focused. I want to shine for Him!

If you ever have questions about what it means to be a Christian and what it means to have faith, please comment on my videos or posts and ask! I love answering questions and sharing what my faith means to me.

Romans 8:18 says “The pain that you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the joy that’s coming.” This verse, to me, is one of the most encouraging verses I know. It…

Romans 8:18 says “The pain that you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the joy that’s coming.” This verse, to me, is one of the most encouraging verses I know.

It basically says that all of the pain that you have been going through, all of the heartache or sadness, cannot compare to all
of the joy that is ahead in your life! God tells us that there will be hard times as well as good times in this life, but those hard times are nothing compared to all of the joy that is in store for you! When we think about all of the pain and sadness that comes into our lives or that may be happening to us right now, it can make us depressed and doubt God’s goodness. But we should never doubt God’s plan for us and never turn our back on Him, because He has big plans for your life, and they are better than you can imagine!

So, when you are going through a tough time and feel down, just remember that this pain is small compared to all of the joy that is coming!

Sometimes life is just hard. Sometimes it can feel like life just isn’t fair. Why are bad things happening to me? Will I ever get through this? The answer is…

Sometimes life is just hard. Sometimes it can feel like life just isn’t fair. Why are bad things happening to me? Will I ever get through this? The answer is yes. And you do not have to go through it alone. We all go through trials and sorrow, Jesus himself tells us this in John 16:33! But, the good news? The pain you are going through right now cannot even compare to the joy that is coming! That is from Romans 8:18. Here are a few ways that you can find joy in the hard times.

Have peace: The great thing about this life is that we aren’t walking through it alone, and we can have peace because we know that God has a plan for our lives, and we can have peace in Him. Nothing surprises Him, he has it all planned out! Why worry about life when God has it all under control? Your book is already written! Have peace and know that Jesus has conquered death, and overcome the world. There is nothing He cannot do.

Rejoice: You may be thinking “Rejoice? How can I rejoice when I feel like my world is falling apart? How can I rejoice when I feel so sad and alone?” When Paul and Silas were in a dungeon, beaten and shackled in a dark cell, they began praying and singing praises to God. While shackled! And beaten! Other prisoners saw them praising God even in their misery, and they were astounded. Their praising God in their darkest time showed the other prisoners just how much they loved their God. That is what we are called to do, rejoice in our misery because this will show others we trust God. Rejoice, because He is always there, He will never leave us!

You will be so surprised at how God can work in your life when you surrender your pain and sorrow to Him. He will open your eyes to the good in your life, He will put people in your life that will uplift and encourage you, and He will give you strength to get through every hardship you endure! Trust in Him and cast your burdens on Him, because he cares SO much for you.

Have you ever been asked, “What is Christmas all about?” Some responses could be spending time with family or the delicious ham you get to savor for dinner! Although those…

Have you ever been asked, “What is Christmas all about?” Some responses could be spending time with family or the delicious ham you get to savor for dinner! Although those are a few pluses, there couldn’t be Christmas without Jesus. That being said, the Bible talks a lot about giving, such as God giving His only son to die for our sins. This is something we can all put into action this holiday season!

I recently found a quote on Pinterest that says “There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.” Personally I find more joy in giving than receiving! Whether you’re doing a gift exchange with friends or giving your mom a present Christmas morning, it’s impossible not to get a smile on your face! Now I’m not saying that receiving isn’t nice… Getting a gift (especially one off of your wish list!) is never a time to complain, but giving someone a present is one hundred times more satisfying!

I know for me, the simple thought behind a gift already makes it good no matter what might be under the wrapping paper. Not everyone has the money to go out and buy ten $50 gifts. Not every present has to be expensive! Homemade or DIY gifts are even more meaningful than just buying a shirt or gift card (and it won’t break the bank!).

Tis’ the season for giving, and you shouldn’t miss out! If you give this holiday, I promise your joy will be greatly multiplied!

“Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first.”

What does “choosing joy” mean? It means choosing to be happy and live life joyfully, even when times get tough. Choosing joy can change your life and totally change who…

What does “choosing joy” mean? It means choosing to be happy and live life joyfully, even when times get tough. Choosing joy can change your life and totally change who you are. Here are 4 ways that YOU can choose joy.

Choose to be around the right people. When you spend time with nice people who are smart, driven and like-minded, you are in relationships that help you, not hurt you. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. Choose friends who you are proud to be associated with, people you admire, who love and respect you. Spend time with people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it, because life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.

Choose to smile more often. Smiling is a choice, so choose to make it! Don’t wait for people to smile, show them how! A real smile makes everyone around you feel good. When you smile, a message is sent to your brain saying that you are happy. When you are happy, your body cranks out all kinds of feel good endorphins. Bottom line? Smiling makes you happier and more joyful.

Choose honesty. Be honest with yourself and everyone else. Be kind, do the right thing! Being honest is a less complicated way to live.

Choose a good attitude. A lot of times, what really messes with our head is the picture of how we think life is supposed to be. Remember, life is a journey, not a destination. Think of every moment as a gift and an opportunity. Be positive, smile, and make your life count. A great attitude always leads to great experiences.